Colorado Sate lost defensive coordinator Tyson Summers and lost their NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl to Nevada, but there are reasons to be hopeful for a bright football future in Fort Collins.
Namely, Mike Bobo.
The culture Bobo is building at CSU is working; his school-record seven victories by a first-year head coach are proof.
A coach, a friend, a father figure.
In less than one year on the job, Bobo has become all three to his Colorado State players. That first speech Bobo gave to his team after being hired last December must’ve been something special because, according to multiple players, it’s when the head coach starting winning them over.
“That moment when he first walked in, first gave his first speech, I knew what kind of guy he was,” senior Jasen Oden said after the bowl loss last Tuesday. “He talked about Christ a lot and belief and faith and ever since that, he had my trust. I haven’t really seen that from too many coaches before.”
Clearly, it left an impression on the players – even on the seniors like SteveO Michel and Oden – not only with his words, but with his actions.
A family-oriented culture was started before Bobo came to Colorado Sate, sure, but his concerted care further established a family-first approach.
“He came in with open arms and had an open office policy,” Oden explained. “We could come in there and talk about anything.”
It’s one thing to say you have an “open-door policy.” It’s another to actually leave that door open – even with the rigorous demands of being a head coach – to take the time to listen and bond with the players.
“I just thought it was very, very important for myself and this staff to basically take that open-door policy to each player,” Bobo explained Tuesday via a phone conference. “We had to get to know who they were, what made them tick. Because we didn’t recruit them. We weren’t involved from Day One. Understanding the pieces at home that helped them get to where they were. So, to get guys to reach their full potential, not just on the football field but when they go forward in life. You’ve got to get to know them and know you care about them outside of football.
“I think it’s important that some of those conversations are honest truths about where you are as a football player, where you are as a student,” Bobo continued. “And, not all of it is what they want to hear. Some of it hurts them sometimes, but I think at the end of the day, they respect me and the rest of this staff for being honest with them about where they stand as a football player, as a student, how they’re living their life. They respect us for being honest.”
Bobo and his staff took the time to know his players and it paid off two-fold; the young men respected their coaches and then went out and played their hearts out for them.
“So I tested it out,” Oden said. “His door was open. We talked for a five-minute conversation, turned into an hour. Asking about me, asking about life.”
Just like with the open-door policy, t’s also one thing to tell the players they can call him at any time, it’s another to actually pick up the phone.
“One thing about it is, I actually called Bobo’s phone before, he picked up,” Oden explained. “We had a conversation.”
“Bobo’s like a friend,” Oden said. “He’s like a father figure to everybody on this team. I’m just proud and happy to be part of this run.”
What do we know about Mike Bobo only one year into the job?
He’s done the work to earn the respect of his players, he’s an intelligent football mind and he’s never satisfied.
When Bobo says something, he means it. He’s not blowing smoke, he’s not simply saying the right thing because it sounds good; the man of family and faith is teaching those ideals to everyone he comes into contact with.
When asked what he’s done to help Rashard Higgins in the junior’s decision to either come back next year or move onto the NFL, Bobo said he wants what’s best for the player. Bobo and receiver’s coach Alvis Whitted are flying to Dallas today to talk to Higgins and his mother about his future, simply to present all the information at hand to make an educated decision. The same went for Oden in the Arizona Bowl. The bruising, senior running back’s services were needed, but Bobo didn’t want to put pressure on Oden to play. Oden did perform that day, but it was the player’s choice. That’s important.
There’s another key component to Bobo’s football culture; Christ.
Earlier in the season, Kevin Pierre-Louis said the team’s faith in God helped them have faith in themselves, even when the chips were down and they were staring at a 2-4 record. Oden explained how Pastor Johnny Square has helped the team by encouraging them to tell their personal stories all season long.
“Johnny Square got this good thing going,” Oden said. “It’s like a testimony you give about yourself. What makes it great, I went last night (the night before the Arizona Bowl). I basically just told my story about my life, what I’ve been through and how God has helped me and how I felt about everybody. You get about five guys to go every week, every Friday night.
“It’s just been a humbling experience to understand what guys come from, what they’ve been through and their road to get here,” Oden continued. “If you know more about a man, it makes you want to lay down and die for him.”
Oden’s personal story of triumph over tribulations is heartwarming, as are likely many of the players on Colorado State’s current roster.
Simply, for Mike Bobo, it’s faith, family and football; and not necessarily in that order. Because, for his Colorado State Rams, the you can’t have one without having all three. And that combination has become a winning formula for the Rams, one they’ll continue to build on as Bobo’s tenure moves forward.
Bobo has taken an already family-oriented football culture at CSU and improved it by putting an emphasis at really learning and connecting with his players on an individual basis. As Oden said, he’s not only a father figure to everyone on the team, but a friend. Trust and respect are earned; for Bobo they’ve come quickly due to his demeanor and follow through.
Rest easy, Ram Nation; the future of football in Fort Collins is bright with Mike Bobo in charge.
Watch my entire interview with Jasen Oden and hear him talk about Bobo, Johnny Square and everyone else here:
https://youtu.be/qbs83R84WR8
